We appreciate that we were able to train our dogs in the sugar beet at Brandon by kind permission of Mr Jeremy Haywood.
Thanks to our trainers (who also judged in the afternoon) who were Sue Hales-Lowe and Julie Campbell. Thank you also to our helpers Vicki Strawson (who threw dummies all day), Philippa Emms, Lynn Falla, Joy and Keith Parker, Martin Strawson and Theresa Jonsen.
The training in the morning was walked up in sugar beet. After lunch there were three tests for all the dogs.
Test 1 was a 2 dog walk up with both judges. A mark was thrown in front. The first dog had to turn and pick a short blind behind, then the second dog retrieved the mark. The dogs changed sides and the exercise was repeated.
Many of the dogs, including novice 2, struggled with the blind behind. It was the first time or the first time this year in sugar beet for many of the dogs. Sadly, a few dogs went awal.
Test 2 was a double mark. Novice 1 picked the last dummy down first, novice 2 and open dogs retrieved the first dummy down first.
Test 3 was a mark and a blind. Novice 1 dogs picked the mark first which was to the right, followed by a very short blind to the left. Novice 2 and Open dogs picked the blind (which was further away) first.
Results
Novice 1
1st Mabel handled by Stuart Cox
2nd Clemmie handled by Christine Southern
3rd Jack handled by Richard Ward
Novice 2
1st Mairi handled by Simon Cook
Open
1st Moss handled by Martin Abbott